PCCs reflect on difficult year

Police Crime Commissioners (PCC) will meet in London later today to discuss how they can repair their tarnished image after a difficult first year in which there were accusations of fiddling expenses, electoral fraud and bullying.

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PCCs do 'three times as much work' as police authority

Police Crime Commissioners (PCCs) "do three times as much" work as police authorities did, the PCC for Dorset told Daybreak.

Martyn Underhill was sceptical about the results of a survey which suggested most people had no idea who their PCC was.

"I've heard the stats this morning about one in three people haven't heard of Police Crime Commissioners. Well that is a success story. One in eight people hadn't heard of Police Crime Commissioners this time last year.

"And how many people know the name of their own MP?"

Govt to announce £20m boost for commissioners

The Government will announce an extra £20 million of funding to boost troubled Police Crime Commissioners (PCC) after their difficult first year.

Policing Minister Damian Green is expected to make the announcement in a speech later today at an event for PCCs.

He will say:

For all its imperfections - concerns over expenses, clashes between PCCs and chiefs, the occasional questionable appointment - the democratic system we have installed is infinitely better than that which preceded it.

I am sure some people thought PCCs were a passing fad. But on the eve of the anniversary of the first elections they should now be able to see that they are here to stay.

And far from shying away from our landmark reform, it is our intention to reinforce, strengthen and expand this new democratic institution."

– Policing Minister Damian Green

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'One in three' oblivious to who their commissioner is

'One in three' people do not not know who their police crime commissioner (PCC) is, according to a BBC poll, even though the role was created to forge greater links between the community and their local force.

Police commissioners have had a difficult first year but are "here to stay" according to the Government. Credit: PA

Research shows 35% do not know who has been elected to oversee their local police budget and 3% incorrectly identified the person in charge.

On top of this PCCs have been accused of fiddling expenses, electoral fraud and bullying during their tumultuous first year in office.

To mark the first anniversary of the inaugural elections, PCCs are gathering today in London to discuss how they can maintain and increase public confidence in policing.

41 PCCs were elected last year amongst the a worryingly low average voter turnout - just 14.9%.

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